February 7, 2018 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Mitra Jalali Nelson formally announced her candidacy for Ward 4 on the Saint Paul City Council. A lifelong Minnesotan, Nelson’s motivation for running centers on the need to make Saint Paul a city that works for everyone.

“I'm running for City Council because Saint Paul needs a leader who reflects the growth, diversity, and values of our community. As a political organizer, policy aide, former teacher, and progressive woman of color in the LGBTQIA community, I am running to bridge the gap between residents and government and help lead our city into the future.”

Nelson cut her teeth in Saint Paul politics as an organizer with the Saint Paul Federation of Teaders in 2012, organizing Ward 4 residents and teachers citywide to pass a levy that invested $39 million in teachers and students. She previously worked as a public school teacher in both Minnesota and New Orleans.

Nelson currently serves as a policy and outreach director for U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, partnering with state and city governments to drive change for Minnesotans in the areas of immigration, refugee issues, and public safety.

“The future of our city is connected to our ability to end rising opportunity gaps that persist by race, gender, class, ability, and more,” Nelson said. “I will bring urgency to the Council on these issues, with a specific focus on police accountability, attainable and affordable housing, and building community wealth. I will make it my mission to see that in our Ward and our City, we achieve progress that leaves no one behind.”

Nelson is hosting a meet-and-greet event on Monday, February 12th at 6:00PM at Black Stack Brewing in the Midway neighborhood of Ward 4.